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Sensei

Kenyukai USA Sensei

Below one can find information about member Sensei of Kenyukai North America.

Doug Achterberg

Antioch California Dojo

Date of Birth:

August 17, 1959

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

August 1991

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

Alan Dollar

Shodan Date:

Nov 1993 Kadena Okinawa

Current rank and date:

Rokudan, Renshi Nov 6, 2010

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

August 1991

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Koshukai 1991 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 1992 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 1993 – Antioch, CA

Okinawa 1993 – Tested for Shodan

Okinawa 1997 – Participant World Karate & Kobudo Tournament

Koshukai 1998 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 1999 – Germany

Koshukai 2000 – Austin, TX

Koshukai 2002 – Antioch

Okinawa 2002 – Training visit

Koshukai 2003 – Germany

Koshukai 2004 – Largo, FL

Okinawa 2005 – Training visit

Koshukai 2007 – Austin, TX

Okinawa 2008 – Training visit

Okinawa 2010 – Rediscover Okinawa

Kosukai 2011 – St. Albert Canada

Any additional info you would like to add:

Sensei Doug has traveled to Germany to teach both Karate and Kobudo on 10 occasions, has hosted Master Gushi many times at his Dojo for Karate and Kobudo training. He is a Godan/Shihan in Kobudo Certified under Master Shinyu Gushi. He is also a Nidan/Shidoin in Ryukyu Kobudo certified under Master Masukazu Kinjo in Okinawa and the first American to be promoted to black belt in that organization.

Christopher Canary

Wickenburg, AZ Dojo

Date of Birth:

November 7, 1957

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

January 1996

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

Alan Dollar

Shodan Date:

May 22, 1998

Current rank and date:

Yondan, Jun Shihan June 16, 2007

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

May 22, 1998

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Koshukai 1998 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 2002 – Antioch, CA

Okinawa November 2002

Shidoin May 2001 Alan Dollar

Shidoin Okinawa November 2002, Kiyohide Shinjo

Koshukai 2007 – Austin, TX

Joel Craven

Largo, FL Dojo

Date of Birth:

June 16, 1976

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

February, 1982

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

Toshiyuki Itokazu

Subsequent Sensei:

Ric Martin

Shodan Date:

May, 1990

Current rank and date:

Godan, 11/29/ 2007

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

September, 2005

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Okinawa 1994

Attended all Koshukai hosted by Kyoshi Ric Martin in Largo, Florida

Attended two California Koshukai between 1990 and 1994.

Koshukai 2007 – Austin, TX

Stanley Crump

Ellicott City, MD Dojo

Date of Birth:

November 22, 1969

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

June, 1993

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

Michael Murphy

Subsequent Sensei:

Rik Lostritto

Shodan Date:

July 1998

Current rank and date:

Yondan March 2007

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

July 1996

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Koshukai 1997 – St. Louis

Koshukai 1998 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 2000 – Austin, TX

Koshukai 2002 – Antioch, CA

Okinawa 2002

Okinawa 2003

Koshukai 2004 – Largo, FL

Koshukai 2005 – Connecticut

Koshukai 2006 – Gaithersburg, MD co host

Okinawa 2006 – Tested for Yondan

Koshukai 2007 – Austin, TX

Any additional info you would like to add:

At the 1998 Golden Gate Koshukai, I won 1st place in Kumite in the Heavy Weight Division and placed 3rd overall for Katas in the International Tournament.

I train regularly with practitioners of Uechi Ryu throughout the Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, and Philadelphia region. My sensei, Rik Lostritto, and I co-host a monthly workout for advanced level practitioners of Uechi Ryu I have recently opened a 1700 square foot retail dojo and fitness center, The Okinawan Karate Academy, with Sensei Michael Thompson. I am devoted to the traditional, application-oriented, open-minded, life-long study of Uechi Ryu…the Okinawan way!

Kerala India. Established Uechi-Ryu Karate and Okinawan kobudo in Cannanore and Dombivli India for the first time in 1997

Any additional info you would like to add:

All tests from white belt through Godan were in Okinawa. All five black tests were in the Futenma dojo in front of Kanei Uechi.
Received Jun Shihan from Kanei Uechi in Okinawa in 1977.
Godan certificate #130 and Shihan ( Master Instructor) #96, both signed by Kanei Uechi, 1993.
Promoted to Godan by the Zen Okinawa Karate Renmae Association in 1993.
Promoted in Okinawa to Rokudan by the Okinawa Ken Karate Do Association 1996. The first American to be promoted by this organization.

While stationed in Hawaii, fought for the Marine Corps full contact team, becoming the military heavyweight full-contact karate champion of Hawaii in 1976. Also taught Uechi-Ryu to Marines at Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station during two year tour of duty.

Hand built, in 1988, a custom 3500 square foot dojo of Okinawan design. One of only three ever built in the U.S.

Started the first Jr. Black Belt program in the history of Uechi Ryu in 1989. That system is now used in the Kenyukai headquarters in Okinawa.

Developed Bunkais for all Uechi -Ryu Kyu Kata.

Produced a series of training videos and DVDs to assist students in their understanding of Uechi-Ryu Kata and applications.

Produced a historic video series and DVD of exclusive footage from Okinawa from the 1960’s -70′ -80’s.

Authored and self published a 500 page book in 1996. The Secrets if Uechi Ryu Karate and the Mysteries of Okinawa has sold in every state in America and forty countries around the world. It has been heralded as the best Uechi ryu and Okinawa karate history book ever published.

Subsequent Senseis are Frank Gorman, John Conroy, John Spencer (all of the aforementioned taught at the Hartford dojo — John Spencer assumed full ownership around 1970 and is my Sensei).

I co-own the Hartford Connecticut dojo with Ernie Harriman. This is the 20th year I have been an owner of the Hartford dojo. Our dojo has hosted Sensei’s James Thompson and Shinyu Gushi multiple times for three day seminars. We host an annual children’s open tournament every spring (15 years) with roughly 75 to 100 participants. I retired from the corporate life of Aetna Insurance in 2003 and am now a teacher of 7th grade US History in a Connecticut public school. Education wise I have a BS in History and a Masters in Education.

Ernie Harriman

Uechi Karate Academy, Hartford CT

Date of Birth:

May 6, 1925

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

March 1964

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

Charles Earle

Subsequent Sensei:

Walter Mattson
Frank Gorman
John Spencer

Shodan Date:

September 20, 1970

Current rank and date:

Kyoshi Nanadan, May 6 2005 Shihan Certificate from Kanei Uechi 1988

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

1985

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Okinawa 1988

Koshukai 1988 – Connecticut

Other training events attended:

1989 started Youth Tournament – Approximately 100 participants each year

Kumite training workshops with various Senseis from Shito-ryu and Shoto-kan karate, Desa School of Karate, 1997-2007

Master Alan Dollar training seminars 1997

Spirit of the North, Canada 1998 – 2009

Okinawa Traditional Karate/Kobudo World Tournament 2001 Atlanta

Kenyukai NA orientation and training seminars – October 2008

Training seminars with Master Gustavo Gondra, 2005, 2008, 2009

Uechi Ryu World Cup Officials Training 2006, 2008, 2009

Uechi Ryu World Cup for Peace 2005, 2007, 2009

Any additional info you would like to add:

Opened Iske School of Karate November 2005.
Jun Shihan June 2009.
Uechi Ryu World Cup Organization Certified Center Referee 2006.
I have attended many other tournaments hosted by different organizations both locally and internationally both as a competitor and a referee.

Andrea Jackson

Oregon Uechi Ryu Dojo

Date of Birth:

October 26, 1979

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

January, 1991

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

Alan Dollar

Shodan Date:

January, 1996

Current rank and date:

Yondan November 2003

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

November 21, 2010

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Koshukai 1991 Antioch, CA

Koshukai 1992 Antioch, CA

Koshukai 1993 Antioch, CA

Okinawa 1997- Participated in World Karate and Kobudo Tournament

Koshukai 1998 Antioch, CA

Okinawa 2002

Budokai 2008 & 2009 Antioch, CA

Any additional info you would like to add:

My professional work has a strong relationship to my martial arts training. I have an undergraduate degree in East Asian Studies and a Master’s in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. I work as a licensed acupuncturist, and also work with herbal medicine and tuina (a Chinese form of bodywork that incorporates physical therapy, massage, and bone-setting). I currently am certified as a Shodan in kobudo under Alan Dollar and Shinyu Gushi. I have begun studying Tai Ji in recent years and may eventually begin teaching it as well as karate.

I have won many competition titles including:

USANKF Junior Olympics Gold New Orleans Kata & Kumite 1991

USANFK Nationals Los Angeles Gold Kumite, Silver Kate 1991

USANKF All-American Award for Total Wins 1992

Antioch Dojo Competitor of the year 1993

USANKF Regional San Jose Gold Sparring, Silver Kata 1993

USANKF National Dallas Gold Kata, Silver Kumite 1993

Golden Gate 98 Antioch Silver Kumite, 4th Kata

Spirit of the North 2010 Bronze Kobudo

Jim Koch

Storrs, CT Dojo

Date of Birth:

May 4, 1948

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

July 1971

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

John Spencer

Shodan Date:

August 1974

Current rank and date:

Sixth dan 1999

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

1983

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Okinawa 1986

Koshukai 1998 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 2000 – Austin, TX

Koshukai 2002 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 2004 – Largo, FL

Koshukai 2006 – Gaithersburg, MD

Koshukai 2007 – Austin, TX

Any additional info you would like to add:

I ran a school at Uconn for twenty years. I just retired, but I still go in to teach. I have classes in my home dojo two nights a week.

Justin LaVasse

Brentwood, CA Dojo

Date of Birth:

May 22, 1977

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

October 1, 1990

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

Alan Dollar

Shodan Date:

December 4, 1994

Current rank and date:

Godan Nov 6, 2010

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

October 1, 1990

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Koshukai 1991 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 1992 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 1993 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 1998 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 2002 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 2004 – Largo, FL

Koshukai 2006 – Gaithersburg, MD

Koshukai 2007 – Austin, TX

Okinawa 2010 – Rediscover Okinawa

Any additional info you would like to add:

Opened a public dojo in February 2005. Full time karate Sensei.

Rik Lostritto

Gaithersburg, MD Dojo

Date of Birth:

July 05, 1953

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

August 5, 1985

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

John Spencer

Shodan Date:

1988

Current rank and date:

Rokudan 2009, Shihan 2003

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

1985

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Koshukai 1997 – St. Louis, MO

Koshukai 1998 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 2000 – Austin, TX

Koshukai 2002 – Antioch, CA

Okinawa 2003

Koshukai 2004 – Largo, FL

Koshukai 2006 – Gaithersburg, MD: Hosted event

Koshukai 2009 – Largo, FL

Any additional info you would like to add:

Started teaching as an assistant instructor with John in Connecticut 1989. Opened my own dojo in 1995 here in Maryland; karate enrollment hovers between 12-18 students, 10 black belts thus far: 2 Nidan; and one Sandan (Stanley). Visited Sensei Shinjo in Springfield MA at John Spencer’s dojo in 1994. I have also hosted several regional karate and Kobudo training events with Senseis Gushi, Jim Thompson, and John Spencer.

I started studying Ryukokaku Kobudo with Gushi Sensei in 1997; my current Kobudo rank is Shidoin. I have 10 active Kobudo students; 4 of them from other regional Uechi dojos. To date there are 8 Kobudo Shodans from my dojo. I hosted Shota Tskyama for a week in my home/dojo in 1997. I only made it to Okinawa once so far in early 2003. I started training in Tomikl style Aikido in 2005 under Senseis Fred and Roma Strathman. My current rank is Sankyu. I have also been teaching and practicing Reiki and other energy healing arts since 1999. As a pharmacist and researcher for over 30 years, I have maintained a strong professional interest in botanicals such as Uechi Gusuri, which I make for historical and cultural interest.

Erica Martin

Authentic Martial Arts Seminole, FL Dojo

Date of Birth:

May 20, 1987

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

1993

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

Ric Martin

Shodan Date:

November 2001

Current rank and date:

Sandan, September 2005

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

September 2005

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Koshukai 1993 – Largo, FL

Koshukai 1998 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 2002 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 2003 – CT

Koshukai 2004 – Largo, FL

Okinawa 2007

Koshukai 2007 – Austin, TX

Kushukai 2009 – Largo, FL

Any additional info you would like to add:

Sensei Erica Martin has evolved into a confident martial arts leader. She has an outstanding competitive record in both national and international martial arts tournaments. She was the youngest Black belt to be certified through the parent organization of Authentic Martial Arts in Okinawa, Japan and she is the youngest ever Certified Instructor (Shidoin). She has received an abundance of community recognition, and has earned numerous awards including the National Leadership Award from the National Association of Professional Martial Artists. Her passion and enthusiasm for helping people by teaching martial arts is infectious and second to none. She is the consummate professional. Her outstanding leadership, energy, discipline, and integrity combine together to provide a unique brand of inspiration for her students and their families. She completely validates the Authentic Martial Arts leadership building process. Sensei Erica is a member of a new generation of professional martial arts instructors. Her, and others like her, will insure that Authentic Martial Arts training, traditions, and culture will continue making a positive impact in the lives of students and families for many years to come. She represents everything right about martial arts.

I was a shodan in Kyokushinkai, promoted December 1976. Was promoted straight to Nidan in Uechi Ryu in June of 1979.

Sponsored the 1993 and 1994 Uechi Ryu Karate National Black belt Championships. I attended Mattson’s Summer Camp in the late 80’s. Don’t remember when. I competed in The All Okinawa Karate Championship Series in 1981, 1982(3rd), 1985(3rd), 1986, 1987, 1989(2nd), 1990, and 1994(1st). I also won the Uechi Ryu Championship in Antioch in 1986.

Operated the Manchester CT dojo in late 70’s with E. Harriman and was partner in the Hartford CT dojo from inception through 1992 (job moved out of state). Remained as instructor in all but 5 years since 1986. Served as chief referee in many of the annual youth tournaments the Hartford dojo has sponsored since 1990. The tournament generally attracts 75 to 100 participants and is open to all styles. Performed breaking demos at most. Judged at Boston MA area tournaments during the last several years.

John Ray

The Dojo, Denton TX

Date of Birth:

July 18, 1951

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

January 1968

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

Sensei Larry Byers

Subsequent Sensei:

Seiyu Shinjo 1974
Kiyohide Shinjo
Peter Kellogg

Shodan Date:

March 25, 1973

Current rank and date:

Godan, July 2000

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

March 1974

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Many

Any additional info you would like to add:

Uechi-ryu, the Shinjo family, and my friends in Kenyukai have sustained me and been a major part of my life for 38 years (This is a partial list in addition to the above: Alan Dollar-sensei, Takemi Takayasu-sensei, Narihiro Shinjo-sensei, Eiko Shinjo, Dave Fisher, Mark Sullivan, Charlie Schultz, John Armstrong, Greg Weber-sensei, Tom Thomas, and Mike Nazar-sensei). Due to forces outside of my control, however, I have grudgingly retired from active practice and teaching of Kenyukai Uechi-ryu karate. However, once a Uechi-ryu man, always a Uechi-ryu man. Choregwa.

Steven Rooke

Rooke School of Karate

Date of Birth:

January 31, 1967

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

October 1999

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

Manuel deSa

Shodan Date:

November 2001

Current rank and date:

Yondan, June 2009

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

June 2009

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Koshukai 2002 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 2007 – Austin, TX

Koshukai 2009 – Largo, FL

Okinawa – February 2011

Other training events attended:

Spirit of the North 2000 – 2009 inclusive

Uechi Ryu World Cup for Peace 2007 – St. Albert Canada

Uechi Ryu World Cup for Peace 2009 – Largo, FL

Kenyukai NA orientation and training 2008

Uechi ryu World Cup Officials Training 2006, 2007, 2009

Kumite training workshops with various Sensei from Shito-ryu and Shotokan

Any additional info you would like to add:

I was formally allowed to open my own school in my local home town of Morinville, Alberta, Canada in 2006.
Jun Shihan with Kenyukai, October 2009
Uechi-ryu World Cup Organization Certified Center Referee 2006
I have attended many other tournaments hosted by different organizations both as a competitor and a referee

John Spencer

Coventry, CT Dojo

Date of Birth:

April 1940

Date Started Uechi Ryu Karate:

September 1963

First Uechi Ryu Sensei:

George Mattson

Subsequent Sensei:

Walter Mattson
Kiyohide Shinjo

Shodan Date:

1967

Current rank and date:

7th dan, May 1999

Date you joined the Kenyukai:

1983

List visits to Okinawa, Koshukais hosted, Koshukais attended, etc:

Okinawa trip of 60 days 1974. Several 2 week trips after that.

Koshukai 1997 – St. Louis, MO

Koshukai 2000 – Austin, TX

Koshukai 2002 – Antioch, CA

Koshukai 2003 – CT: Host

Koshukai 2004 – Largo, FL

Koshukai 2006 – Gaithersburg, MD

Koshukai 2007 – Austin, TX

Koshukai 2009 – Largo, FL

Okinawa 2010 – Rediscover Okinawa

Other training events attended:

Hosted a week-long visit for Shinjo Sensei in the summer of 1994.

Any additional info you would like to add:

Started teaching in 1968 and has been operating a dojo continuously since.

Kumite training workshops with various Sensei from Shito-ryu and Shotokan

Uechi Ryu World Cup Organization Certified Judge 2006

Any additional info you would like to add:

In 2007 I accepted the responsibility of running the Desa School of Karate satellite schools in the towns of Legal and Cardiff after assisting Sensei deSa with instructing since 1998. Jun Shihan with Kenyukai, October 2008

Hosted Okinawan foreign exchange student, Yoichiro Kuniyoshi from August 1996-June 1997. Yoichiro was 16 years old and lived with me and my wife and 3 sons. He attended Antioch High School and also trained with my family at Kiyoshi Alan Dollar’s dojo in Antioch. He was a Shodan when he lived with us and is currently a Yondan under Master Kiyohide Shinjo. We are still in contact with him.